DICKINSON, N.D. – Valley City State University hit 10 home runs and scored 36 runs Friday during a baseball doubleheader at Dickinson State University.
The Vikings hit five home runs in each game as they swept the doubleheader by scores of 16-5 and 20-5. Jorun Hamre, David Demeter and Dustin Mertz each hit two home runs on the day. VCSU also pounded out 12 doubles in the doubleheader.
Valley City State improves to 11-16 overall and 4-2 in conference play. Dickinson State drops to 3-15 overall and 1-5 in the North Star Athletic Association.
Up next: The Vikings and Blue Hawks play another doubleheader Saturday in Dickinson at 1 p.m. CT/12 p.m. MT.
VCSU 16, Dickinson State 5
The Vikings ended game one by mercy rule after eight innings, cruising to a 16-5 win in the series opener.
VCSU scored in each of the first five innings – including four runs in the first – to build an 11-0 lead. Hamre and Ryan Reynolds both hit two-run home runs in the first inning to open the scoring. Jayden Shipman homered in the second inning, and then Hamre and Mertz hit back-to-back solo home runs in the third inning.
Tyler Kliniske started and turned in a sparkling performance on the mound. The hard-throwing Viking right-hander allowed just three hits and one run over 5 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out five to earn his first collegiate victory. Mitch Taylor pitched 2 1/3 innings in relief, allowing four hits and four runs.
Eight different Vikings combined for 17 hits in the game. Hamre led the way going 3-for-5 with three runs, five RBIs, two home runs and a double. Shipman was 3-for-4 with two runs and a home run, while Zach Veneman was 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI. JT Reed collected two hits and scored four runs; Dustin Mertz had two hits and scored three runs; and Ryan Reynolds was 2-for-4 with four RBIs, a double and a home run.
VCSU 20, Dickinson State 5
Gedeon Ellis led off the game with a solo home run as VCSU kept the pressure on in game two. Ellis’s blast sparked a four-run first inning and VCSU opened up a 10-3 lead after three innings.
David Demeter hit a two-run home run in the second inning and then later delivered a three-run blast in the fifth inning. Dustin Mertz hit a two-run shot in the fifth inning as well, putting the Vikings up 15-4. Zach Veneman capped the home run parade with another two-run shot in the seventh inning.
VCSU finished with 20 hits, including four hits by Demeter who also scored three times and drove in six runs. Drew Nixon had three hits and three RBIs, and Adam Thompson was 3-for-3 with a walk. JT Reed, Mertz and Reynolds all added two hits.
William Hlady pitched five innings for the win, allowing nine hits and five runs. He did not walk a batter and struck out four. Veneman pitched two scoreless innings in relief, allowing just one hit while striking out three.